ALICE

 When you stop and really look at how life is in the United States you are forced to realize some harsh truths. ALICE is one of those truths. What is ALICE? 

ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, and represents the growing number of families who are unable to afford the basics of housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and technology. These workers often struggle to keep their own households from financial ruin, while keeping our local communities running.

All too often our political leaders want us to believe that the stock market is the factor that tells us how well our economy is doing. The vast majority of stocks are owned by the richest one percent. Big business and the rich are cleaning up. The rest of us are wondering when they will have enough money to allow some to trickle down to us. You know in your heart the answer is never. The unemployment rate is consistently under 5%. It does not accurately reflect what is actually happening. People working multiple jobs who are still living the ALICE reality. Federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. The minimum wage in Georgia is $5.15 per hour. With some limited exceptions employers in Georgia are required to pay the federal minimum wage. The current administration wants to do away with the federal minimum wage and return it to the states. Georgia is a good example of why this is a bad idea. This chart shows what costs were in 2022 and the hourly wage it would take to exceed the ALICE level of income. We must make changes and do better. There is no rationale country who would tolerate so few having so much while so many have so little and struggle so much. 

The Cost of Basics Outpaces Wages

The Household Survival Budget reflects the minimum cost to live and work in the current economy and includes housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, technology, and taxes. It does not include savings for emergencies or future goals like college or retirement. In 2022, household costs in every county in Georgia were well above the Federal Poverty Level of $13,590 for a single adult and $27,750 for a family of four. 

Household Survival Budget, Georgia, 2022

Monthly Costs and Credits	Single Adult	One Adult, One Child	One Adult, One In Child Care	Two Adults	Two Adults Two Children	Two Adults, Two In Child Care	Single Adult 65+	Two Adults 65+
Housing - Rent	$607	$543	$543	$543	$650	$650	$607	$543
Housing - Utilities	$163	$258	$258	$258	$310	$310	$163	$258
Child Care	$0	$178	$476	$0	$357	$1,016	$0	$0
Food	$451	$766	$687	$828	$1,392	$1,230	$417	$764
Transportation	$412	$545	$545	$652	$1,062	$1,062	$348	$524
Health Care	$185	$458	$458	$458	$796	$796	$529	$1,057
Technology	$86	$86	$86	$116	$116	$116	$86	$116
Miscellaneous	$190	$283	$305	$286	$468	$518	$215	$326
Tax Payments	$354	$713	$775	$478	$976	$1,115	$422	$735
Tax Credits	$0	($212)	($232)	$0	($425)	($463)	$0	$0
Monthly Total	$2,448	$3,618	$3,901	$3,619	$5,702	$6,350	$2,787	$4,323
ANNUAL TOTAL	$29,376	$43,416	$46,812	$43,428	$68,424	$76,200	$33,444	$51,876
Hourly Wage	$14.69	$21.71	$23.41	$21.71	$34.21	$38.10	$16.72	$25.94

51st State

 The current President keeps talking about how great Canada would have it if it became the 51st state. I often wonder if Republicans have seriously considered what would happen if it came to pass. Canada has universal healthcare. They embrace DEI. They embrace multiculturalism. They have a providence that primarily speaks French. As the 51st state they would get 2 senators. Most likely liberal senators. How many representatives in the House where the margin is even smaller? Seems like Republicans in the House and Senate wouldn’t be in love with this plan. They keep quiet now hoping it is just bullshit from the orange clown leading them. Why take a chance at pissing him off for no reason. Just sit back and let him backstab our close neighbor and put his ignorant tariffs in place. Stock market is tanking. Inflation is going to spike. Contrary to what he says egg prices are rising not falling. So watch your 401K circle the drain and pretend he has a clue or a plan. Remember you folks who voted for him- you wanted this. You own it. 

Here’s a Plan

 Maybe I’m grasping at straws. Could it be possible that the dumbest president in the history of the United States has a nefarious plan? Tariffs raising prices. Stock market crash. Looming government shutdown. Social security and Medicare in doubt. Bring on a recession or depression and watch the bottom fall out. Who does all that not affect? The filthy rich. Make it so government doesn’t  work and try to privatize basic government functions. Instead of paying taxes we pay them. When the housing market gets destroyed they buy up our homes and rent them back to us. They are already trying to bust unions. TSA agents just got a new contract last year.  The orange turd is trying to void that. Postal workers are next. They have privatized prisons and immigration detention centers. Protesting- good luck with that. Today he said boycott of Tesla was illegal. He’s coming for your free speech rights. You’ll just have the one the police tell you about- the right to remain silent. Fuck that and fuck him. Fuck his plans if he has any. Don’t be distracted. Don’t be silent. 

Look for Subtlety

 When I read posts on Facebook all too often I see friends and acquaintances looking at the world in black and white. Every problem, every issue has hundreds of different perspectives. If, of instance, I’m pro choice I must be in favor of abortion. For me, that is not what being pro choice means. I look and say I cannot see a scenario where my decision on what a woman should or should not do stands between her and her doctor. It is, I hope, the most difficult decision a woman will make in life. It should involve some serious conversations with whom ever she feels can help her make the best choice give her circumstances. I may or may not agree with her choice but I should not unreasonably restrict her ability to make a choice. Would I prefer there were no abortions? Yes. It would be ideal if no woman was ever impregnated by rape or incest. That no fetus had defects so severe that survival was impossible. We don’t live in an ideal world. 

It isn’t just abortion. Look at the current war in Ukraine. All to often recently I have seen posts claiming that if I am not for peace I must be for war.  It is not that simple. Russia invaded Ukraine. They took, by force Ukrainian land, in violation of international law. The United States, Russia and Ukraine entered into an agreement when the Soviet Union collapsed that Ukraine would surrender its nuclear weapons in exchange for protection of its sovereign territory. We have not, under multiple presidents, honored our obligation to protect Ukraine. We should not negotiate the loss of Ukraine’s sovereignty over some of its territory with Russia without Ukraine being involved in every meeting and decision. If Mexico took part of our southwest back we wouldn’t be comfortable with them negotiating with Canada without our participation. When I look at the current situation I often think of the words and wisdom of President Lincoln. 

Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration

which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause

of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself

should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less

fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible, and pray

to the same God; and each invokes his aid against the other.

It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's

assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces;

but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both

could not be answered--that of neither has been answered fully.

The above is from Lincoln’s second inaugural address. It is my hope that peace will come but it must be fair, just and enforceable. Negotiations must include all parties. There are shades of gray. Hues of thousands of colors. Not wanting an unfair peace treaty does not mean you desire endless war. Look beyond the headlines and the either or choices presented on social media. Life is more complicated than those limited tropes. 

Bullshit

 Well, it should have surprised no one, the tariffs are here. The rationales given make little or no sense. Let’s start with drug trafficking. This one makes some sense regarding Mexico and China. There seems to be little doubt that drugs are moved from China to Mexico and then into the United States. The case for Canada makes less sense. Less than 1% of illegal drugs enters the United States from Canada. Will tariffs change the flow of drugs? Seems the more effective approach might be a few efforts working together. First, as currently being started, additional troops and border patrol agents. Second, a comprehensive approach to reducing the demand for illegal drugs in the United States. Drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration. 

The second rationale given for the tariffs is that somehow these countries stole our jobs. There are a variety of reasons jobs and industries moved out of the United States. Corporations were looking for cheaper labor and less regulation. There is no question Mexico and China provided both. Cheaper labor and less regulation meant larger profits for multinational corporations. Those corporations are not in business to do anything except make profits for their shareholders. Will tariffs change the equation? Maybe. 

Contrary to what the current administration is saying tariffs are not paid by foreign countries. They are paid by the importers. It seems unlikely to me that corporations who are profit driven and accountable to their shareholders are going to bear the expense of these tariffs. The cost will be passed on to American consumers. Increased prices, higher inflation. The Federal Reserve is consistent in their policies. They will raise interest rates. The cost of buying homes and cars goes up. Cars and car parts come from all over the world. Those parts just got 25% more expensive. Lumber from Canada will cost more. Interest on car loans and home mortgages will go up. 

So I have a couple suggestions. First, fasten your safety belts the ride is going to get bumpy. Second, when you go shopping look for items that are made in the United States. We can’t have products made here if we don’t buy them. Finally for those folks who are riding on the Good Ship Lollipop and think this President is a genius- good luck with that. 

There is Beauty

 Carol and I made a trip to Asheville, North Carolina in November to visit the Biltmore Estate. The point of our trip was not to see the house, which is magnificent, but to see the beautiful artwork of Dale Chihuly.  It has long been my opinion that the gifted artists among us see the world in a different way than the rest of humanity. We are truly fortunate when they share what they see with us. Here is some of Dale Chihuly’s art and vision.